News Updates

''Senate sends furlough bill to Schwarzenegger; he'll likely veto''

Sacramento Bee/State Worker Blog
March 08, 2010

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is "likely to veto" a furlough exemption bill that sailed through the Assembly and Senate this afternoon.
Read the full story here!

''Budget cuts slash California rehabilitation program for prisoners''

Sacramento Bee
March 08, 2010

I just hope someone up there (in Sacramento) has a brain and can see what the impact of this will be.
Read the full story here!

''Schwarzenegger's move on furlough cases stuns unions''

Sacramento Bee
March 04, 2010

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is requesting the California Supreme Court take over seven key furlough lawsuits.
Read the full story here!

''Jerry Brown says he'll consider California pension reform''

Sacramento Bee
March 04, 2010

Attorney General Jerry Brown said that if elected he would consider overhauling public employee pension programs while opposing any move to privatize them.
Read the full story here!

''Furloughs causing banked vacation to skyrocket''

California Watch
March 03, 2010

Furloughs have made it much harder for state employees to take paid time off.
Read the full story here!

January 3, 2010
SVRC/QRP - Rehabiliation Counselor Update

December 4, 2009

To: Steve Shanahan, President
AFSCME Local 2620

From: Denise Nicks, Chair and Dae Peter Lee, Committee Members
Election Committee

Subject: Results of Phase Two Elections - Run Off Election

Following are the results of the tally of ballots for Phase Two Run Off Position of Coalinga State Hospital Chief Steward conducted on December 4, 2009
RUN OFF ELECTION____________________________________________

COALINGA STATE HOSPITAL CHIEF STEWARD:
Adriel Reyes 21 votes
Tom Kipnis 6 votes

27 Ballots were counted.

September 30, 2009 (revised 10/02/2009)

To: Nancy Swindell, President
AFSCME Local 2620

From: Ellen Schenk, Chair
Election Committee

Subject: Results of 2009 -2011 term Phase One Elections (Scroll Down for Phase Two Election Results)

Following are the results of the tally of ballots for Phase One Positions, conducted on September 30, 2009.

PRESIDENT: (6 ballots left this section unmarked)
Steve Shanahan 469 votes
Martin Sultan 11 votes
Nancy Swindell 299 votes

NORTHERN VP: (95 ballots left this section unmarked)
Elaina Jannell 345 votes-----------------------------------------------Run-Off
Felisha Bearheart 112 votes-----------------------------------------------Run-Off
John Marlett 233 votes

SOUTHERN VP: (33 ballots left this section unmarked)
Pat Gehr 481 votes
Mona Mosk 271 votes

SECRETARY: (23 ballots left this section unmarked)
Valtina Kinermon 467 votes
Lance Ferris 295 votes

TRESURER: (17 ballots left this section unmarked)
Cozette Moysa 392 votes
Brian Kaufman 101 votes
Nancy Quach 14 votes
Sonia Solis 261 votes

COUNCIL 57 DELEGATES (7 seats)
Henry Carreon
Norberto Garcia Jr
Cynthia McCabe
Sonia Solis
Nancy Swindell

800 Ballot envelopes return to PO Box and opened in front of Committee & Observers

785 Ballots were counted.

Prior to opening the envelopes and counting the ballots, 12 ballots were deemed invalid:
9 - had no name on the outside envelope.
1 - left State service
1 - duplicate ballot
1 - unreadable signature and address

After opening the envelope 3 ballots were deemed invalid:
1 - signature on ballot
1 - blank ballot
1 - returned campaign statement only, no ballot

* 3 observers were present: Mable Bush, Carmen Briones and Gerry Moysa

October 28, 2009

To: Steve Shanahan, President
AFSCME Local 2620

From: Ellen Schenk, Chair
Election Committee

Subject: Results of 2009 -2011 term Phase Two Elections

Following are the results of the tally of ballots for Phase Two Positions, conducted on October 28, 2009.

Occupational Chairs

CHOC (Chaplains OC)
Rabbi Lon Moskowitz 22 votes
Trey Littlejohns 15 votes

PharmOC (Pharmacists OC)
Tom Dirkovich 43 votes
Robert Lewinter 27 votes
Chuck Hassett 3 votes

RTOC (Rehabilitation Therapists OC)
Arlene Pereida 36 votes
Holly Corrente 33 votes

SPOC (State Psychologist OC)
Michael Hewitt 70 votes
Judi Herman 69 votes

SWOC (Social Workers OC)
Lance Ferris 53 votes
Norberto Garcia Jr. 45 votes

VROC (Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor OC)
Robyn Tenensap 132 votes
Sonia Solis 34 votes

Regional Chief Steward

Central Coast Region
Cynthia McCabe 43 votes
Anthony Ricigliano 6 votes

Central Valley Region
Gail Penny 39 votes
Bonnie Wagner 22 votes

Los Angeles Region
Mable Bush 49 votes
Henry Carreon 44 votes

Facility Chief Steward

Coalinga State Hospital
Tom Kipnis 11 votes
Adriel Reyes 11 votes-------------------------Run Off

Ran Unopposed

Chief Facility Stewards

Atascadero State Hospital - Chuck Heyer

Lanterman Developmental Center - Harry "Skip" Matthies

Metropolitan State Hospital - Denise Nicks

Napa State Hospital - Zach Hatton

Patton State Hospital - Mona Mosk

Porterville Developmental Center - John Chapman

Sonoma Developmental Center - Elvis Neal-De-Stanton

Vacaville / Solano CDC - Ethel Toni Andrews

Regional Chief Stewards

Bay Area - Susan Neeson

Orange/Inland Empire - Leslie "Sean" Carey

Sacramento/Stockton - Terry Wager

San Diego/ Imperial - Michael Feer

Redwood Empire - Chris Kruebbe

Occupational Committee Chairpersons

Individual Program Analysts (IPCOC) - Mary Sorial

Licensing Program Analysts (LPAOC) - Chandell Tutt

Prior to opening the envelopes and counting the ballots, 16 ballots were deemed invalid:
9 - had no name on the outside envelope.
2 - unable to verify membership
4 - had no name and ballots were Xerox copied by unknown.
1 - unreadable signature and address

After opening the envelope 9 ballots were deemed invalid:
1 - signature on inner envelope
2 - returned Phase 1ballots
1 - write in nominee
1 - wrote "Neither of the Above" on ballot
2 - marked both nominees
2 - ballots didn't identify any choice

* 1 observer was present: Gerry Moysa

Northern VP Runoff Election Results

November 20, 2009

To: Steve Shanahan, President
AFSCME Local 2620

From: Denise Nicks, Chair and John Chapman, Committee Members
Election Committee

Subject: Results of Phase Two Elections – Run Off Election

Following are the results of the tally of ballots for Phase Two Run Off Position of Northern Vice President conducted on November 20, 2009

RUN OFF ELECTION____________________________________________

NORTHERN VICE PRESIDENT:

Felisha Bearheart 312 votes
Elaina Jannell 233 votes

547 Ballots were counted.
Prior to opening the envelopes and counting the ballots, 13 ballots were deemed invalid:
8 - had no name on the outside envelope.
2 - left State service
3 - unrecognizable name and address

After opening the envelope 2 ballots were deemed invalid:
2 - No ballot

* 2 observers were present: Gerry Moysa and Arturo Hernandez

April 7, 2009
Radio Ads: Budget Campaign's First Salvo
The first campaign ads have been released by backers of the six budget-related ballot measures, sending a simple and expected message to voters: vote yes or things will get worse.
The campaign headed up by Governor Schwarzenegger and his allies are behind one of the radio ads, while the California Teachers Association has released two more radio ads.
In the ad from the governor's Budget Reform Now campaign, voters are told that passage of the six measures will "bring sanity and stability to our budget process and take away the politician's blank check."
The ad goes on to say that Propositions 1A-1F will protect against additional tax increases and spending cuts.
While the ad doesn't specifically say so, a campaign spokesperson confirms the ad is focused on the assertion that the five budget-related measures are part of the February budget agreement... which solved a $40 billion shortfall while providing billions more in tax increases for the coming years.
Of course, as the Legislative Analyst's Office has recently pointed out, the enactment of the measures won't erase new red ink caused by the worsening California economy, which the LAO now estimates at an additional $8 billion since the budget was signed into law.
Meantime, the radio ads from the CTA take a different tack. In fact, even though the teachers union has formally endorsed all six measures, these ads only focus on Proposition 1A and Proposition 1B.
And there's probably a simple reason for that. Prop 1B's passage would guarantee an additional $9 billion for public schools over the next few years. And, in a late night budget deal that seemed custom made for smart politics, Prop 1B only takes effect if the Prop 1A spending cap/reserve fund also passes. Prop 1A has been panned by a number of others in organized labor, while endorsed by C /> Both radio ads from the CTA's Yes on 1A & 1B campaign focus on the $9 billion for schools, arguing that the measure will allow the "paying back" of "gigantic cuts" from education in recent years.

March 5, 2009
Governor's office: Tomorrow is the last 'Furlough Friday'

March 5, 2009
The State Worker: To furlough or not, still the question

February 27, 2009
Schwarzenegger gives lucrative board seats to ex-legislators and aides

December 27, 2008
Democrats say deal is 'very close'

November 12, 2008
Schwarzenegger's furlough plan limited to executive branch

November 11, 2008
Schwarzenegger pushes for November budget solution - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

October 7, 2008
AM Alert: The state budget, the sequel

September 16, 2008
PM Alert: A budget, a veto, an override?

What are the chances of an override?

August 2, 2007
Cities ill-prepared for early prison releases

July 24, 2007
The Sacramento Bee - Judges take on prison crunch

July 24, 2007
Los Angeles Times - U.S. judges order review of California prison crowding